Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 265 as Rescuers Race to Find Survivors

KUALA LUMPUR, AUGUST 2026 — Rescue operations intensified across western Colombia after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake devastated several cities, killing at least 265 people and affecting more than 25,800 families.

President Abelardo de la Espriella said nearly 500 people were officially reported missing, while civilian-run databases listed more than 4,100 missing persons. Search teams continued working through collapsed buildings in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó.

Rescuers are working within a critical period, as disaster agencies generally consider the first 48 to 72 hours after an earthquake the most important window for finding trapped survivors alive. Authorities in Cali said teams were still detecting signs of life beneath the rubble.

There were also moments of hope. In Pereira, rescuers successfully pulled Daniela Largo alive from a collapsed building after a complex rescue operation that lasted around 12 hours. Thousands of displaced residents have meanwhile taken shelter in schools, sports facilities and temporary camps.

Colombia’s geological service has recorded at least 130 aftershocks since the earthquake, adding to concerns among residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Many families in Pereira and Cali have been sleeping outdoors because they fear further structural collapses.

The disaster has been especially difficult in Chocó, near the earthquake’s epicentre, where poverty, armed conflict, limited road access and communication outages have complicated relief operations. Some remote communities can only be reached by river, making it harder to determine the full scale of the damage.

International assistance has begun arriving. The United States has offered more than US$15 million in aid, while Mexico sent military aircraft carrying food and rescue personnel. El Salvador also offered humanitarian supplies, as regional partners increased support for Colombia’s emergency response.

Rescue teams remain focused on locating missing people as authorities warn that every remaining hour is critical for those who may still be trapped beneath collapsed structures.